Free Follow Your Star by Jennifer Bohnet Page B

last twenty minutes before the formation lap.
    Nanette watched as Jean-Claude took his Lotus up the hill before disappearing from view along the part of the track that went past the Casino.
    By the time he emerged from the tunnel and was negotiating the bends by the swimming pool, most of Mathieu’s guests had arrived and the balcony was buzzing.
    Nanette, looking out across the harbour, saw Zac on Pole Position and breathed a small sigh of relief. He was obviously not planning on joining them for lunch. Since the morning he’d come to the apartment expressing the desire that they should be civil to each other in public, Nanette had been wondering where and when their next encounter would be.
    Evie saw her looking at the yachts.
    ‘Is that Pole Position ? I’ve been invited to a party on board tomorrow. Do you know Zac Ewart?’
    Nanette smiled. Evie was exactly the kind of girl Zac liked to surround himself with. She nodded.
    ‘Yes I’ve known Zac for years.’
    She glanced at Evie as she said this. Evie, being new in town, clearly had no idea of her past relationship with Zac.
    Nanette, knowing the way the grapevine worked, knew it wouldn’t be long before someone told Evie all the gory details. She hesitated, perhaps she should get in first with her version – the details she could remember anyway.
    ‘Oh great, you’ll be going to the party then,’ Evie said, and the opportunity was gone.
    ‘Not sure,’ Nanette said evasively.
    A party on board the boat on which she had organized many a party in the past, full of people who had ostracized her after the accident wasn’t a scenario she fancied. Could she really face it?
    ‘It’s about to start,’ Pierre said excitedly. ‘The lights are on.’
    Watching the old cars take off, Nanette hoped Jean-Claude would do well – or at least finish the race and not break down. In the event he came in second, managing to pass Stirling on the third lap which Nanette knew was a real triumph as the Monaco circuit was a difficult one for overtaking. Watching him take the chequered flag, Nanette and the twins cheered loudly before joining the others at lunch.
    It was mid-afternoon before a happy Jean-Claude joined them. ‘Any food left? I’m starving,’ he said.
    Nanette, helping Florence in the kitchen, quickly made up a plate of food for him and then followed him into the sitting-room where he was receiving congratulations from everyone.
    As Jean-Claude tucked into his late lunch, Mathieu turned to Nanette.
    ‘Are you still planning on spending Grand Prix Sunday upat the villa? Or now that you and Zac have kissed and made up, are you going to watch from the pit lane?’
    ‘Mathieu, I don’t know what Zac has told you, but we certainly haven’t kissed and made up – I’ve still got a lot of questions I’d like him to answer,’ Nanette said sharply. ‘Does it matter where I am next Sunday then?’
    ‘I’ve just agreed that Boris can use the apartment next weekend,’ Mathieu said. ‘Apparently the apartment he was hoping to use isn’t available. I’ve told him Pierre and I will be here and possibly you and Olivia, which isn’t a problem for him.’
    ‘Pierre definitely wants to watch the race and Olivia would prefer not to,’ Nanette said. ‘So, I’ll take her up to the villa for the day and leave Pierre with you, if that’s OK with you JC?’
    ‘Fine by me,’ Jean-Claude assured her. He glanced at Mathieu ‘Are you going to Zac’s party tomorrow night?’
    ‘Of course, and I’m hoping Nanette is coming as my partner,’ Mathieu answered looking at her.
    ‘Thanks, Mathieu, but I’ve decided not to go,’ Nanette said.
    Mathieu looked disappointed but merely said, ‘That’s a shame, but if you change your mind I’ll be leaving here about nine thirty. You know Zac’s parties never take off until late.’
     
    The night of Zac’s party on board his yacht, Monaco Old Port was a mass of twinkling lights from the yachts and the restaurants that